The Impact of Sustainability Certification Schemes and Labels on Market Access and Trade - White Paper

This white paper examines how sustainability certification schemes and labels (CSLs, also referred to as voluntary sustainability standards – VSS) influence market access and trade dynamics in the global bio-based economy. Building on a systematic review of 21 quantitative studies and an assessment of certification coverage across key bio-based commodities imported into the EU, the analysis synthesises evidence on governance structures, producer capacities and supply chain characteristics to evaluate how certification shapes trade performance and value distribution. The findings show that certification can enhance competitiveness, transparency and market access by signalling product quality and reducing information asymmetries in contexts with strong governance and institutional support. However, in weaker institutional environments, certification may limit participation, create administrative burdens and impose disproportionate compliance costs on smallholders and SMEs. Moreover, financial benefits along value chains remain unevenly distributed, with downstream actors capturing most gains while producers bear the majority of certification costs. To ensure that certification becomes an enabler rather than a barrier, the white paper recommends strengthening governance and harmonisation of standards, supporting small producers through financial assistance, group certification and digital traceability tools, promoting fair cost- and benefit-sharing along supply chains, and improving data interoperability to support evidence-based policymaking.